Hardiness (plants)

Hardiness of <a href="/facts/Plant/X5BMDMvS">plants</a> describes their ability to survive adverse growing conditions. It is usually limited to discussions of <a href="/facts/Climatic/f57XrNFU">climatic</a> adversity. Thus a plant's ability to tolerate <a href="/facts/Cold/8rMG6pQ1">cold</a>, <a href="/facts/Heat/e9QqQ0B2">heat</a>, <a href="/facts/Drought/LVW0rfuV">drought</a>, <a href="/facts/Flood/FDQjJeXW">flooding</a>, or <a href="/facts/Wind/Nt0QIu5B">wind</a> are typically considered measurements of hardiness. Hardiness of plants is defined by their native extent's geographic location: <a href="/facts/Longitude/HsC61ML9">longitude</a>, <a href="/facts/Latitude/IBYqkjhU">latitude</a> and <a href="/facts/Elevation/h2d0u9nd">elevation</a>. These attributes are often simplified to a <a href="/facts/Hardiness_zone/zhPbV4Qb">hardiness zone</a>. In <a href="/facts/Temperate/6WPypCzC">temperate</a> latitudes, the term most often describes resistance to cold, or "cold-hardiness", and is generally measured by the lowest temperature a plant can withstand.
Hardiness of a plant may be divided into two categories: tender, and hardy. Tender plants are those killed by freezing temperatures, while hardy plants survive freezing—at least down to certain temperatures, depending on the plant. "Half-hardy" is a term used sometimes in horticulture to describe <a href="/facts/Bedding_(horticulture)/3gevYVHE">bedding</a> plants which are sown in heat in winter or early spring, and planted outside after all danger of frost has passed. "Fully hardy" usually refers to plants being classified under the Royal Horticultural Society classifications, and can often cause confusion to those not using this method. When this distinction is made a fully tropical plant that requires hot temperatures to grow and display is termed a "tender" plant.
Plants vary greatly in their tolerance of growing conditions, and are capable of adaptation to changes in climate on their own to some extent. The <a href="/facts/Selective_breeding/CAkkM2UG">selective breeding</a> of <a href="/facts/Variety_(botany)/r3qRdjVt">varieties</a> capable of withstanding particular climates forms an important part of <a href="/facts/Agriculture/TGztqzJs">agriculture</a> and <a href="/facts/Horticulture/m8qBLuT3">horticulture</a>. Part of the work of nursery growers of plants consists of <a href="/facts/Cold_hardening/ljD3r0PT">cold hardening</a>, or hardening off their plants, to prepare them for likely conditions in later life.

Hardiness (plants) open-in-new

Hardiness (plants)